1,500-year-old pollen found in Japan

A tiny about of pollen from 1,500-year-old basil plants has been found at the Makimuku ruins in Japan.

The basil, the oldest found in Japan, dates back more than 1,500 years and originated in the tropics of Southeast Asia, archaeologists announced May 13.

It was found in the Makimuku ruins which date back to the early third and fourth centuries.

“Basil of Southeast Asian origin could have been brought here as dried medicinal herbs through exchanges with the Chinese,” said Masaaki Kanehara, a professor of archaeology at Nara University of Education.

The ruins, a national historic site, are believed to have once been home to the ancient kingdom of Yamataikoku that was ruled by Himiko.

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Story: Kazuto Tsukamoto, Asahi Shimbun | Photo: Masaaki Kanehara